Monthly Archives: June 2004

Perry hedges on special session

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I guess they aren’t making all that much progress after all. With state leaders still unable to agree on a new way to pay for the public schools, Gov. Rick Perry is dimming the prospects for another special session on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Perry hedges on special session

Howard Stern coming to Houston airwaves

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Well, well – I may have a new morning radio alternative. NEW YORK — Howard Stern announced today that his syndicated morning show would appear in nine new markets, including four where his show was axed by the nation’s largest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 7 Comments

Joel Steinberg goes free

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Joel Steinberg, the man responsible for the awful, brutal death of his illegally adopted daughter Lisa Steinberg in 1987, will get out of jail today. I’m getting sick just thinking about it. (Please note: if you don’t have a strong … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 8 Comments

The Sudan

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This is a petition urging President Bush to take action against the ongoing genocide in the Sudan. I’ve signed it and I urge you to sign it as well. That said, it’s somewhat hard to imagine what exactly the United … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 7 Comments

Abramoff scandal reaches Ralph Reed

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

According to The Nation, the burgeoning scandal/investigation into the activities of DeLay cohorts Jack Abramoff and Mike Scanlon is about to reach out and touch former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed. In early 2002 the Coushatta tribe of Louisiana was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Big Time booed at Yankee game

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Say what you will about Yankee fans, they’re not afraid to express an opinion. [Vice President Dick] Cheney, who visited both clubhouses after batting practice, watched part of the game from the box of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and part … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Jake Gilbreath wrapup

Posted on June 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks as always to everyone who helped spread the word about Jake Gilbreath, a name I’m sure you’ll be hearing many times in the future. Be sure to check out this report on Jake that Byron filed later in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on Jake Gilbreath wrapup

Francis/McGrady trade finally happens

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

And so it goes. The Rockets’ long pursuit of NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady was completed today with a seven-player trade that will send McGrady to the Rockets and Steve Francis to the Magic, sources close to the talks said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 6 Comments

Bishop responds to Klinkner

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been trading emails with “Great Divide” author Bill Bishop regarding this Gadflyer article by Philip Klinkner, and he was kind enough to send me an official response from himself and coauthor Robert Cushing. With his permission, I’ve posted it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

F-911

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve not seen “Farenheit 9/11”, and to be honest, with the baby’s arrival, I probably won’t get to see it before it comes out on DVD. I just wanted to note, as a point of data, that the movie sold … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Another Bushie seeking office in Texas?

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

How does Matthew Dowd for Comptroller grab you? After years of behind-the-scenes work for candidates ranging from Democrats Lloyd Bentsen and Bob Bullock to Republican Bush, Dowd will soon be looking to act on the dream he has harbored for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Another Bushie seeking office in Texas?

Lay seeks sitdown

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Kenny Boy Lay and his lawyer are in Washington to have a chat with federal prosecutors. Well, they hope to have a chat, anyway. Ex-Enron Chairman Ken Lay and his criminal defense lawyer are in Washington, D.C., this week, hoping … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Lay seeks sitdown

Texas Tuesdays: Jake Gilbreath

Posted on June 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

And we start our look at the State House candidates with Jake Gilbreath, who as a student at George Washington University is the youngest candidate running for state office in Texas this year. We’ve got an intro to Jake, an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on Texas Tuesdays: Jake Gilbreath

I got those orange traffic cone blues

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to be my life for the next year and a half: construction on the main road through my neighborhood. What a lovely complement that will be to the messes on Loop 610, I-10, and US 59. And … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Adam Everett??

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Now hear this: if Adam Everett is voted as the starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, then the term “All-Star shortstop” will cease to have any meaning. OK, that’s a bit harsh, as this is not a banner year for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Dividing over The Great Divide

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This article in The Gadflyer is a direct challenge to the findings of the Statesman series The Great Divide, which claims that America is becoming more segregated by politics. Author Philip Klinkner makes some interesting points, but I have to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

More bad parenting ideas

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Before anyone asks, no, this was not an option when we were considering baby names. PAMPA, Texas — A Texas couple who named their son ESPN after the cable sports network will soon be getting a visit from the toddler’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 7 Comments

Come on, get horrified

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I have no words to describe this: David Cassidy, Danny Bonaduce, and Shirley Jones are reviving The Partridge Family. Cassidy will co-executive produce both the reality-themed In Search of the Partridge Family for VH1 and a half-hour pilot for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 10 Comments

Corporate blogging

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

John Lyon sent me this link about Blogging With The Boss’ Blessing a week ago, and despite meaning to blog it I’d forgotten about it until I saw it again in Lis Riba’s journal. I expect to see more of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Corporate blogging

No more Nader

Posted on June 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Ralph Nader will not be the Green Party nominee for President. Hallelujah! And may I say, what Julia says. Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on No more Nader

CD28 update

Posted on June 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I usually crosspost my stuff from the Political State Report here, but my entry today on the latest news and notes from the longstanding and increasingly bizarre recount fight in the 28th Congressional District is fairly lengthy, so I’ll just … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on CD28 update

Tarrant County for nobody

Posted on June 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, there are no official Presidential campaigns in Fort Worth. As popular as he is in Tarrant County, President Bush is lacking one thing here: someone to organize his local re-election campaign. The Texas Republican and former governor has plenty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on Tarrant County for nobody

Kenny Boy speaks

Posted on June 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Kenny Boy Lay rues his Bush family friendship, blames Fast Andy Fastow, and asks us to pity him for being down to his last million in this interview. There was a time when Kenneth L. Lay’s close relationship with President … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Kenny Boy speaks

“Guesswork”

Posted on June 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This op-ed by Ed Shack, an “attorney specializing in First Amendment law and state and national election and campaign laws and regulations” makes the case that no one really knows how to follow campaign finance laws because it’s all so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on “Guesswork”

More special session talk

Posted on June 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Yellow Dog Blog, quoting from Capitol Inside, and Alan D. Williams, citing this Morning News story, think Governor Perry might call another special session in July where it will overlap the Democratic national convention. That would screw a number of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on More special session talk

TRM/TAB focus shifting to businesses

Posted on June 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

According to this Statesman article, Travis County DA Ronnie Earle is saying that the corporations that financed the 2002 GOP takeover of the state Legislature is facing greater scrutiny than Tom DeLay himself. The shift in emphasis is just the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Don Evans??

Posted on June 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Andrew D and Vince Leibowitz both quote from a Capitol Inside report which says that Commerce Secretary Don Evans is considering a run for Governor when his service in DC is up, either 2006 or 2010. Both of them see … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Don Evans??

The return of the roach

Posted on June 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I may be a staunch defender of Houston as a place to live, but even I will never claim that it’s one of the more scenic places in the world. This is not to say that there aren’t interesting things … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on The return of the roach

Tort “reform” yet again

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Why do I keep harping on all the tort “reform” baloney around us? Because it’s such an easy target. For today’s discussion, start with this Star-Telegram op-ed which Andrew D found. Since damage caps became effective in September 2003, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 3 Comments

No Senate funds for Hutchison in Governor’s race?

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison may have to make up her mind quickly if she wants to run for Governor in 2006. As things stand right now, it’s not clear if she’ll be able to use any of her Senate campaign … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

And the slime machine cranks up

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

May as well get used to this sort of thing now that Chris Bell has taken his stand against Tom DeLay. You will note that nowhere in this piece does Rep. John Carter offer any kind of rebuttal to any … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Comdex cancelled

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Holy cow. Computer trade show Comdex, once the biggest event on the tech calendar, has been canceled this year, a victim of the growing interest in shows emphasizing consumer electronics and specialist IT gear. Eric Faurot, vice president of Comdex … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

Astros get Carlos Beltran

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This is a great trade for the Stros. The Astros finally landed the classic center fielder they have craved for years, acquiring Kansas City Royals star Carlos Beltran on Thursday night in a three-team deal that club officials compared to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

McNeely on Morrison

Posted on June 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Dave McNeely pays a little attention to Richard Morrison in the Statesman. Morrison, who’ll turn 37 on July 4, also lives in Sugar Land. Before and since winning a contested primary, he’s campaigned all over the parts of four counties … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on McNeely on Morrison